Cupola gas-making apparatus



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

- J. M. ROSE.

GUPOLA GAS MAKING APPARATUS.

Patented Jan; 7, 1896.

AN DREW B.GRAHAM pumomrmovwAsnmerou n c '(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J M. ROSE. GUPOLA GAS MAKING APPARATUS.

Patented Jan. 7, 1896.

UNrTnn STAT-Es PATENT Grrrcn.

JAMES M. ROSE, O F ALLEGHENY, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNEASSIGNMENTS, TO THE NATIONAL HEAT AND POWER COMPANY, OF

NE? JERSEY.

CUPOLA GAS-MAKING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 552,587, dated January7', 1896.

Application filed March 16, 1888. Serial No. 267,862. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES M. ROSE, aresident of Allegheny, in thecounty of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in Apparatus for the Manufacture of Gas; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionthereof.

My invention relates to the manufacture of gas, and more especially toan apparatus therefor.

In patents granted to me October 4, 1887,

- Nos. 370,971 and 370,973, I have shown and described an arrangement ofgas apparatus which consists of a central steam-boiler and a series ofgenerators and lime-chambers arranged around the same. My presentinvention is a modification of this arrangement and is adapted to carryon a process described by me in Letters Patent No. 391,386, datedOctober 16, 1888, which, however, consists, generally stated, in passingthe waste products from the water-gas generator through a mass oflimestone impregnated with a heavyhydrocarbon, and then passing throughthe incandescent fuel and heated limestonea current or currents ofsteam, though it may also be employed in practicing other gas-makingprocesses,such as a gas-making process described in connection with suchapparatus in an application of even date herewith.

Mypresent invention has for its principal objects the providing ofapparatus in which there is a large surface exposure of heavyhydrocarbons to the action of the water-gas, and therefore a greatergeneration of light hydrocarbon gases, and in which the gases previouslyformed are fixed and a further portion of gas generated within a chamberheated by means independent from that employed in heating the otherparts of the apparatus,while for the more economical operation of theapparatus the direction of the flow of the gases may be reversed, andthe steam employed in gas-making may be generated. To these ends itcomprises, generally stated, a gas apparatus composed of a centralboiler, two generators on one side of the same and a series of connectedauxiliary gas generating or treatin g chambers on the opposite side ofthe boiler and connected to the generators and the boiler. By myinvention said several generators, chambers, and boiler are providedwith a set of connecting-conduits and valves for controlling them, bywhich the direction of the fiowof gas through the apparatus chambers maybe reversed from time to time. The inventionalso consists in certainother improvements, all'of which will be more fully hereinafter setforth. To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my inventionI will describe the same more fully, referring to the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure l is a plan view of my improved apparatus.Fig. 2 is a front view lookin g toward the generators. Fig. 3 is a sideView showing the connections between the generators and thelimestone-chambers. Fig. 4 is an end View looking toward the series oflimestone-chambers.

Like letters and numerals refer to like parts in all the figures.

The apparatus which I shall describe in this application consists,generally, of a central from the water-gas generators or generation a ofgas in connection therewith, such as, in the first case, a mass of limeto purifythe gas, or in the second case a mass of limestone or otherrefractory material coated with a heavy hydrocarbon, with which thehydrogen unites, the chambers being hereinafter designated aslimestone-chambers. The end limestonechambers are connected to thewatergas generators and the boiler, so that the products of combustionfrom the water-gas generators can be made to pass through said chamberson their way to the boiler to be burned, and the gases made in onegenerator allowed'to pass through the heated limestone-chambers, andfinally through the incandescent fuel in the other water-gas generator,while water-gas is being made therein.

The water-gas generator a is of the usual construction that is, it isprovided with a charging-port 1 in the roof thereof for charging thefuel therein, grate-bars 2 at the base of said generator for the supportof said fuel, and with stoking-hole 3 in the side wall for thewithdrawal of the clinkers or fuel therefrom, and ash-pit door 6 belowthe grate-bars for the Withdrawal of the ashes. This generator is alsoprovided with suitable air-inlets 7 for the supply of the necessary airto raise the fuel to incandescence, and steam-inlets 8 for the admissionof the steam during the gasmaking stage, and with an outlet 9 leading tothe gas-receiving tanks and another outlet 10, controlled by a valve,which connects this generator with the second generator Z) and with thecentral boiler c, as hereinafter eX- plained. The generator a is alsoprovided on the side or at the top with a pipe orconduit 12, controlledby a suitable valve 13, which pipe serves to connect the top of thegenerator with one of the limestone-chambers cl hereinafter described,and a similar pipe or conduit 15, controlled by a suitable valve 16,also leads from the lower part of the generator a to the chamber (I,this latter pipe being also connected by a branch pipe 17, controlled bya valve 18, to the central boiler c, hereinafter described. The chamberdis preferably cylindrical, and is provided with a charging-port 20 inthe roof thereof for the charging of the impregnated limestone or othermaterial therein, grate-bars 21 at the base of said chamher for thesupport of said limestone, outlet 22 above and below said grate-bars forthe discharge of the limestone when spent, and steam-inlets 23 at thetop and bottom for the admission of steam therein, said inlets beingprovided with injectors so as to admit a sup ply of hydrocarbon orsolvent, as hereinafter explained.

Placed at the side of the limestone-chamber d are two other similarchambers e and f which are also provided with the same appurtenances asto charging-ports, gratebars, steam-inlets and discharging-outlets asthe chamber 01 heretofore described, and they are also charged with thesame material. The limestone-chambers d, e and fare connected togetherat their top by a conduit or main 24, a valve 25 being placed in saidconduit between the chambers cl and e and a similar valve 26 in theconduit between the chambers e and f, these valves serving to close thecommunication through the conduit from one chamber to another whendesired. These chambers cl, 6 and f are also connected together belowtheir grate-bars by a similar conduit 27 which has therein a valve 28between the chambers d and e for controlling the communication betweenthem through this conduit, and also a valve 29 between the chambers eand f. The top of the chamber f is also connected to the top of thesecond generator I) by a pipe 30 controlled bya valve 31, and the bottomof the chamber fwith the lower part of the generator I) by a pipe controlled by a valve. (Not shown in the drawings, but the same as shown inFig. 3 between the chambers a and d.) This pipe is also connected by abranch pipe 35 to the boiler c, a suitable valve 34: being provided insaid pipe. The second generator b is provided with the sameappurtenances, as to chargingports, steam and air inlets, stoking-holesand outlets to the generator, that the generator a is provided with, asheretofore described. The generator 5 is also connected to the generatora and to the boiler c, to effect which connection a Y-shaped pipe 36 ispreferably employed, the lower end of the Y having an inlet into theboiler a controlled by the valve 37, and one side of the upper arms ofthe Y having an inlet into the generator to which is controlled by avalve 38, while the other arm has inlet into the generator b, 0011-trolled by a valve 39, so that the gases or products of combustion fromone generator can be made to pass to the boiler or from both, or fromone generator to another, without going to the boiler. The centralboiler 0 may be of any suitable type, the upright tubular boiler beingwell adapted for the purpose.

In making gas with this apparatus, according to the process preferred byme, the generators a and l) are about filled with coal or coke, and thelimestone-chambers d e f with blocks of limestone coated with heavyhydrocarbon, as described in my said Patent N 0. 391,386, and thechambers closed to prevent the access of air therein. The fuel in thegenerators a, and b is now blown up by airblasts to incandescence, theproducts of combustion from the generator I) passing down through thepipe 36 (the valves 37 and 39 bein g open and the valve 38 closed) tothe boiler c to generate steam, air being admitted if desired to ignitethe said products; or when more heat is required in thelimestone-chambers d c f the valve 37 is closed and the valve 38 opened,so that the products can pass to the top of the generator-chamber a topass off with products generated therein to the limestone-chambers. Inthe ordinary operation of the apparatus, however, the heated productsfrom the generator (1 pass to the boiler and only the heated productsfrom the generator a pass to the limestone-chambers, these productspassing out through the pipe 12, the valve 13 being open and the valves16 and 18 closed. These heated products of combustion thus enter the topof the limestonechamber cl and pass down through the hydrocarbon-bearingmaterial therein, imparting thereto much of their heat, and finallypassing out into the conduit 27, the valve 28 being open and the valves25 and 29 closed. From this conduit they enter the secondlimestone-chamber e at the base of the latter and rise up through theimpregnated material therein, parting with still more of their heat andpassing out the top of the chamber 6 to the conduit 26, passingtherethrough to the top of the limestone-chamber through which they passdownward, parting with substantially all of their heat, and escaping atthe bottom of the chamber into the pipe leading from the base thereof tothe generator I), the valve therein being closed, and passing thence,the valve 34 being opened, through the branch pipe 35 to the centralboiler c, Where the products are burned. The heat from these Wasteproducts is substantially exhausted in their passage through thelimestone-chambers, but as the heated products from the generator I)also enter the boiler they will act to raise these products to a heat atwhich they will readily ignite, so that they will materially assist inheating the boiler. Any hydrocarbon vapors carried over from thelimestone-chambers with the Waste products can also be burned in thismanner. hen the coke or coal has been raised by the air-blast to theproper degree of incandescence the air-blast is turned off, and thevalve in the pipe leading from the generator I) to the boiler is closed,and the gas-outlet 9 to the receiver of the generator I) is now opened.Steam is then allowed-to enter the generator at, which steam isdecomposed, the hydrogen and carbonic oxide formed passing over throughthe pipe 12 to the top of the heated limestonechamber (1, when a furtherportion of steam is admitted at the top inlet, the steam beingdecomposed, and the resultant gases passing down with the gases comingfrom the generator, the nascent hydrogen unitingwith the heavyhydrocarbons to form light hydrocarbons. The gases after passing throughthe chamber dpass thence through the pipe 27 to the chamber 6. At theinjector-pump at the bottom of this chamber, as the gases are pass- 1ing upthrough the same, a solvent for the heavy hydrocarbonsuch asalcohol or Wood spiritsis sprayed into the chamber for the purpose ofassisting the union of the hydrogen With the heavy hydrocarbons, thegeneration of light hydrocarbon gases, and obtaining a larger exposureto the action of the hydrogen, as described in my application, SerialNo. 261,139. After passing up through the hydrocarbon-chamber e thegases escape into the conduit 24 and are conducted to the top of thechamber f, Where a further supply of solvent is injected during the timethe gases are passing through this chamber, for the purpose heretoforedescribed. An additional quantity of light hydrocarbon is formed in thischamber, and finally the gases pass out at the bottom to the pipeleading to the bottom of the generator I), rising up through theincandescent fuel therein and mingling With the water-gas formed by thedirect admission of steam into this generator during the passage of thegas therethrough. In passing through this generator the gases formed inthe first generator and in the limestone-chamber are intermingled Withthose formed in this second generator I), and any carbonic-acid gasentering this generator isconverted into carbonic oxide, while onaccount of the high heat of the fuel in this generator all the gases arefixed and a permanent or stable gas, composed principally of hydrogen,light hydrocarbons, such as marsh-gas, and carbonic oxide, obtained, thegas passing through the outlet from the generator to the receiver. \Vhenthe temperature of the fuel in the generatorchambers 00 and b has fallentoo low for gasmaking, the steam is turned off and the outlet to thereceiver from the generator I) closed and the valves 37 and 39 opened,When the air-blast can be again turned on and the fuel again raised toincandescence, the products from the-generator a passing, as beforedescribed, through the chambers d, e and f, and the valve 0 having beenopened the products from the generator I) passing to the boiler c to beburned, as heretofore described.

If it is desired to reverse the operation of the apparatus and make theproducts of combustion from and the gases formed in the gen erator I)pass through the chambers f e (Z and thence to the boiler, or throughthe generator at to the gas-receiver, the valves 31, 27, 25 and 17 andthe gas-outlet from the generator a to the receiver are opened, thevalves 38 and 39 closed, also the valves 13 28 26 34 and the valve inthe pipe leading from the base of the chamber f to chamber 19, whichWill give the current of gases a reverse course from that heretoforedescribed, thus insuring a uniform exhaustion of the hydrocarbon in thelimestone-chambers. If desired, Where too much steam is generated andthe limestone-chambers are not sufficiently heated, part of the productsof combustion from the generator heating the boiler may be caused topass, as above described, through the upper part of the other generatorand thence with the products therefrom to the limestone-chambers, orpart of the products maybe caused to pass through the thirdlimestone-chamber and thence to the boiler, this being accomplished bythe operation of the valves before re ferred to.

If after the gas-making step it is desired to freshen the hydrocarbonmaterial in the limestone-chambers, liquid hydrocarbon may be sprayedinto the top of the chambers d e f or any one or more of them While theproducts of combustion are passing therethrough, and this hydrocarbonthus spread over the refractory material, as described in Letters PatentNo. 403,382, granted to me May 14, 1889. I

am thus enabled to obtain the generation of steam for gas-makingpurposes, the generation of a large volume of Water-gas, the properheating of the auxiliary gas making or treating chambers, and the fixingof the gases formedwithout the employment of a superheater, the productsof combustion from the generators being employed for other purposes.

The apparatus is compact and on account of the arrangement of theseveral chambers and their connecting valve-controlled pipes all theheat can be properly utilized.

The limestone-chambers can of course be IIO employed for an y suitabletreating or gas-generating purposes according to the process carried outin the apparatus.

Having now described my invention, what I claim is 1. A gas makingapparatus, having a central boiler, two separate cupola gas generatorson one side of said boiler and having valve controlled pipe connectionstherewith and a series of casings containing auxiliary gas generating ortreating chambers on the other side of said boiler having valvecontrolled connecting pipes, and valve controlled connecting pipebetween the end chambers of said series and the cupola generators,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. A gas making apparatus having two onpola gas generators, valvecontrolled pipes connecting said generators, and a series of casingscontaining connected auxiliary gas generating or treating chambers, theend chambers of which series are connected to the generators by valvecontrolled pipes, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. A gas making apparatus, having two cupola gas generators, valvecontrolled pipes connecting said generators, a series of casingscontaining auxiliary gas generating and treating chambers, a conduitconnecting the upper parts of said chambers together and a similarconduit connecting the lower parts of said chambers, valves in saidconduits between said chambers, and connections between the end chambersof the series and the generators, substantially as and for the purposesset forth.

at. A gas making apparatus, having two onpola generators and connectionsbetween them, a series of casings containing auxiliary gas generating ortreating chambers, a c011- duit connecting the upper parts of saidchambers and a conduit connecting the lower parts of the chambers,valves in said conduits between each chamber, and connections betweenthe top portion of the end chambers of the se ries and the top portionsof the generators and connections between the lower parts of saidchambers and the lower part of the generator, and valves for controllingsaid connections, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. A gas making apparatus, having a central steam boiler, two generatorson one side of the same, a series of casings containing connectedauxiliary gas generating or treating chambers on the other side of theboiler, and valve controlled pipe connecting pipes between the endchambers of the series, and the boiler and generators,substantially asand for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I, the said JAMES M. ROSE, have hereunto set myhand.

JAMES M. ROSE. lVitnesses:

BUTLER KENNER HARDING, I-IowARn QUICK.

